Kathmandu. As the conflict between Iran and Israel intensifies, fear and uncertainty have driven a growing number of Iranian citizens to flee their homeland, seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
On Wednesday, large groups of Iranians were seen crossing the Meghri border checkpoint into Armenia. While no official figures have been released regarding the exact number of people fleeing, eyewitnesses in the southern Armenian town of Agarak reported seeing hundreds of people arriving within just a few hours, many carrying heavy suitcases and appearing prepared for long-term stays.
“The border town of Meghri is now overwhelmed with Iranians fleeing the conflict. They have not yet been granted refugee status, but local hotels are already operating at full capacity,” reports from the ground stated. With Iran’s airspace closed, Armenia has become a vital transit hub not only for fleeing Iranians but also for foreign nationals seeking a route home.
Similar movements have been observed toward Iran’s northern neighbor, Azerbaijan. Authorities in both the Azerbaijani capital Baku and the Armenian capital Yerevan reported that over 700 foreign nationals residing in Iran had crossed into their territories by Tuesday.
Tensions escalated significantly last Friday morning when Israel launched a large-scale airstrike targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Since then, the region has been gripped by growing instability and the threat of a broader war, prompting fears among civilians and sparking this sudden exodus.
